Caitlin + Michael || The Haley Mansion Joliet, IL Wedding

Caitlin and Michael’s wedding day gave me such a renewed perspective on the importance of being a wedding photographer, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to capture their day. 

Caitlin is a 1800s historian. When it came time to selecting their wedding venue The Haley Mansion, built-in 1893, seemed like the perfect place for them. This mansion was once home to many extravagant parties hosted by the Haleys, and has now been turned into an event space for all the enjoy. This space definitely has an old-world charm to it, and Caitlin and Michael made it their own with many personal touches throughout the home. For instance, both of them are avid readers so they decided to make some of their favorite books the centerpieces for the reception. 

These details are great and all, but that’s not why this wedding had such an impact on me. Earlier this year Caitlin’s sister, Colleen, had to receive brain surgery and wasn’t able to attend the wedding. I can only imagine how difficult this all has been on their family, but they all wanted to make the most of the situation and through FaceTime calls Colleen was still so much apart of this day. 

Many wedding photographers I know say they often cry at weddings and can get very emotional… Let me honest, that’s usually not me. Since having my own daughter, sometimes moments between parents can get to me but for the most part I can keep it together. But… Seeing the relationship between Caitlin and Colleen had me in tears all day long. Even while editing this wedding every time I got to the part where Caitlin “brought” Colleen to the dance floor and then her family gathered around Caitlin to dance with Colleen, I’ve cried. This is NOT normal for me haha! Witnessing this sister relationship was just that beautiful. 

I’ve talked about this before and I’ll say it again… Wedding details are great and amazing couple portraits are the best, but goodness gracious it’s all about the people. This day you have to celebrate comes once in a lifetime and I want you to enjoy it as much as possible and be as present as possible. I want you to trust me to capture your day and all those there with you. I’m the photographer that hustles as much as I can because I can’t stand the thought you not having photos of your guests at cocktail hour. I’ll always be down for you to pull me aside to get a photo with your college roommates, or you dancing with your grandpa. And gosh (I know you’re not supposed to say this but oh well), I’m notorious for over-delivering on photos because I care that much that you can look back on your wedding photos 10+ years from now and get to actually see who was at your wedding. 

Wedding photography is so much more than pretty photos of the couple or the perfect detail shots. It also about capturing all those who have come to support and love on you on this very special day. Those are the captures that’ll be cherished for a lifetime. 

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VENDORS:

Venue - The Haley Mansion

Invitations - Shine Wedding Invitations

Florals - Woodland Flowers Company 

Bridal Gown - Suzanne Neville 

Groom Attire - The Black Tux 

DJ - Clik Entertainment 

Lacey + Tyler || Northfork Farm Oswego, IL Wedding

Hey friends!! With a full Fall wedding season and raising a now one-year old, I haven’t been able to blog as much as I’d like to. But now I’m all caught up with editing my 2018 weddings and I could NOT be more excited to share Lacey and Tyler’s wedding with you all!! 

Lacey and Tyler went to the same high school but they didn’t really know each other at the time. Get this - in their high school yearbook, their photos were diagonal to each other! Flash forward some years later, Lacey and Tyler met at a club and their story together began. After dating for a little over five years, Tyler asked Lacey to marry him and I had the great honor of capturing their wedding day! 

They both have a love of Autumn and the outdoors, so Northfork Farm in Oswego, IL was the perfect fit for them. PSA: If you’re looking for some FALL WEDDING INSPO, go no further. You’re about to see a Fall wedding done right. The beautiful Fall colored trees, the bride’s long-sleeve lace gown, and the Fall themed decor seen throughout the entire day all blended together to create the most perfect Fall wedding. 

Gosh, I haven’t even mentioned how amazing Lacey and Tyler were to work with. I shot their engagement session last winter; you can view that here! Their engagement session was my first session back after maternity leave and they surely reminded me of why I love what I do. Their love for each is so easy and effortless. I don’t know how else to describe it, but when they are together there is this sense of fullness, as if they complete one another. I know that may sound cheesy but I’m just keepin’ real… I’m sure you’ll understand once you take a look their photos.

Now, cozy on up with some coffee and a fuzzy blanket to fully enjoy looking back on this incredible day.

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VENDORS:

Venue - Northfork Farm

Make-Up - Katie Oertel

Hair - Molly Lagos, A Shear Encounter Downers Grove Hair Salon

Bridal Gown - Maggie Sottero

Groom’s Attire - Joseph Abboud

Florals - Mark Allen Inspired

Invites - Bethany Mavronicles

Caterer - Uncle Bob’s BBQ

Bakery - Ingram's Busy Bee Bakery

DJ - Matt Kuhnen, Style Matters

Bridal Boutique by New Name || Chicago, IL Wedding Photographer

One of my favorite parts of a wedding day is seeing a bride's dress for the first time and getting the chance to swoon over it during portraits. So when Jill Fager of J.M. Fager contacted me to help her take bridal portraits for  Bridal Boutique by New Name I was over the moon with excitement! Not only would I get to capture gorgeous gowns, but I'd also get to help support an amazing nonprofit that sells wedding dresses at a discounted rate and then one hundred perfect of its proceeds go towards helping exploited women. How amazing is that?!

Many talented women came together to make this shoot happen (see below!), and I am so honored to have been apart of this incredible team.

Organization - Bridal Boutique by New Name

Makeup Artist -  Ashley LaHood

Hair - Unwana Rose

Studio - Mingo Gallery

Models - Geneva, Dana, Tamara & Jenna

Photographers - J.M. Fager & Erika Mattingly Photography

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ALSO - On May 5th there will be a New Name Bridal Boutique Sale and Dress Drive! If you're in need of a dress be sure to stop by, friends!!

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Mary + Sean || Thalia Hall Chicago Wedding

This wedding is definitely one of those days I will never forget. On Mary and Sean's wedding day it rained. Not just a light drizzle; I mean downpour all. day. long. But despite the crazy weather, we were able to find some pockets of natural light inside Thalia Hall Chicago and the results are stunning! They are easily some of my favorite portraits to date. You know that saying that having rain on your wedding day is good luck? I think that saying surely rang true for Mary and Sean's day. This wedding was so unique and so sweet to have been a part of. 

Mary and Sean live in California so I hadn't officially met with them until their wedding day. From the moment I met them, they treated me with such grace and kindness. After seeing them together at their first look, I could so easily see the love they had for one another. It was so sweet to witness. Not only did they so clearly love one another, but their family and friends had such a clear love for them as well. Just so you know what I mean... when Mary and Sean walked on stage for their ceremony they received a standing ovation from all those in the audience! That was a first for me. From there, love and joy were just radiating throughout the whole day. 

This day could not have been complete without the help of an outstanding vendor team. Elizabeth of Anticipation Events did an incredible job organizing this event. Just wait until you see the floral arrangement for the huppah; La Rue Floral work was insanely gorgeous. The Chicago Players seriously know how to put on a show and get people on the dance floor - SO many hilarious dancing moments in this post. Full vendor list below! 

Enjoy!!

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Vendors: 

Photography - Erika Mattingly Photography 

Venue - Thalia Hall Chicago

Wedding Planner - Anticipation Events

Florist & Tablescape Rentals - La Rue Floral

Band - The Chicago Players

Hair + Makeup - Charles Ifergan

Photo Booth - Magic Moment Photo Booth

Caterer - Dusek's

Megan + Joe || Glen Flora Country Club Wedding, Waukegan, IL

Megan and Joe tied the knot in late September. Their day was filled with so many sweet and meaningful moments — I had such a hard time narrowing down the photos I would share for this blog post! 

Some of my favorite moments from their wedding day included: their bridal party photo session was hilarious - they seriously have such a fun group of friends; Megan and Joe’s portrait session was gorgeous and sun-filled; the entrances of the bridal party were too funny - they each walked into a unique theme song from a TV show (love this idea!); and, let me tell ya, Megan and Joe’s friends and family sure know how to throw a dance party. See all this and more below! 

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Vendors: 

Photography - Erika Mattingly Photography 

Reception Venue - Glen Flora Country Club

Coordinator - Charlotte Winters

Officiant - Henry Hurt

Florist - Larsen Florist

Bride's Attire - Mackenzie Michaels

Hair - Dapper Classic Barbershop

Make-Up - Sierra's Makeup Artistry

Robin + Taylor || Lake Ellyn Park Boathouse Wedding || Glen Ellyn, IL

Mid-September Robin and Taylor tied the knot on what turned out to be a beautiful summery day that also had some gorgeous Fall colors - the weather these days has been so unpredictable but I wasn't complaining! Love those Fall colored trees! 

On their wedding day they met each other under a shady tree in Cantigny Park for their first look. Robin and Taylor decided to keep things more intimate and only invited their closest friends and family to their ceremony and reception at the Lake Ellyn Park Boathouse in Glen Ellyn, IL. The details seen throughout the day were simply gorgeous. Fun fact - Robin made ALL the wedding florals and they were stunning! Also, those cupcakes from The Sugar Path were incredible... I definitely went back for a second. 

Now, I'll stop my rambling about this amazing day... See more of their sweet details and watch their wedding day unfold below! 

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Vendors: 

Photography - Erika Mattingly Photography 

Coordinator - Sofie and Olive Event Planning Services

Officinet - Janet Volk

Invitation Designer - Minted 

Caterer - Chef By Request

Bakery - The Sugar Path

Bridal Attire - BHLDN 

Groom's Attire Designer - JOE Joseph Abboud

Ashton + Dan || Valparaiso, IN Backyard Wedding

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Vendors: 

Photography - Erika Mattingly Photography 

Caterer - Grindhouse food truck 

Bridal Attire - Cathy Telle

Geneva + Tyler || Houston, TX Backyard Wedding

Earlier this year I had the privilege of capturing Tyler and Geneva's sweet proposal on a small beach in Rosewood Park. And now, just a few months later, they are married!!

These two decided to tie the knot in their friend's backyard in their hometown of Houston, TX. This small and intimate wedding was filled with such sweet and meaningful moments. Some of my personal favorite moments from their day include: their emotional first look... and well their whole bride & groom session (I went kind of overboard in sharing these photos! Too many good ones to choose from.); when Geneva was walking down the aisle and seeing the looks on Tyler and Geneva's faces; the pure joy they had after their first kiss; the happy tears during speeches; dancing galore; and so much more... now go see for yourself!

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Vendors: 

• Photographer - Erika Mattingly Photography
• Coordinator - Patrice McKenna
• Officiant - Joel Bratcher
• Florist - The Farmer & I Flower Co.
• Caterer - George's Pastaria
• DJ - Bruce Simmons

Wedding Inspiration || Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve - Lemont, IL

Each time I do a styled shoot I am always amazed by the beauty that creatives can create. Anna Deblecourt reached out to me a few weeks ago looking to do a styled shoot at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Lemont, IL. With the help of some crazy talented vendors, we were able to create something truly amazing. 

 Sarah Viktoria and Amelia C & Co did Anna's hair and makeup - Anna lip color even matched Gromeza Designs gorgeous florals! Mignonette Bridal contributed a stunning gown that flowed wildly throughout the shoot, and CharmCat  provided an invitation suite that brought the whole shoot together. And then of course, Anna Deblecourt made this rather hot day look like a total breeze - let me tell ya, she makes a stunning bride. Enjoy!

UPDATE: This shoot has been featured on Planning for Paradise! 

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Vendors: 

Photo - Erika Mattingly Photography 

Model - Anna Deblecourt  

Makeup - Amelia C & Co  

Hair - Sarah Viktoria 

Gown - Mignonette Bridal 

Calligraphy - CharmCat

Florist - Gromeza Designs 

Rachel + Keith || Rockton, IL Wedding

Rachel and Keith tied the knot back in September on a beautiful apple orchard in Rockton, IL. The excitement these two shared to marry one another was so clear - their first look got me real good. And, all their details were simply gorgeous. Her dress looked like it came straight from a fairytale. Their grandmothers were their flower girls (I love this idea!). AND, they even had a COTTON CANDY bar for guests when they took a break from the incredible dance party. 

Rachel and Keith's wedding was just so good and I'm so thankful that Erika of Mayden Photography brought me along to second shoot this incredible day. 

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Urban Elegance Inspiration at Indiana Cathedral Ruins || Chicago, IL Wedding Photographer

Wedding Inspiration comes in many forms, and often in the unlikeliest of places. When I met with Abby of Heirloom Event Co. to dream up a new form of inspiration, we knew they wanted a location that was unexpected and captivating. City Methodist Church of Gary, IN was the perfect setting for this unique shoot. These cathedral building ruins, echoing with the love stories of the many couples who had passed through its altar, now stand in crumbling decay covering the beauty just beneath the surface. 

Planning in unusual locations can be a challenge and this inspiration was not short on challenges. Abby did an incredible job of finding the balance between the soft and delicate details of a wedding day with an urban location, all while creating the intimate feeling of a wedding. Couples looking for unique settings for portraits or elopement ceremonies can look beyond the traditional venues and reimagine even the most unlikely of spaces.

This inspirational wedding shoot is was filled with so many incredible and breathtaking details. Be sure to see below for the full list of this creative team that made this shoot possible. 

UPDATE: This shoot was recently published in Green Wedding Shoes & WeddingDay Magazine!

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Video by Brandon Mattingly (aka my husband)

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Creative Team: 

Photography - Erika Mattingly Photography
Event Planning & Design - Heirloom Event Co.
Invitations - Four Hats Press
Florals - Fleur, Inc. 
Furniture Rentals - Strangelovely
Dress - Alyssa Kristin
Menswear - Richards Fabulous Finds
Hair/Makeup - Bianca Sansosti Artistry
Cake/Sweets - Sweet Melissa Desserts
Jewelry - Katie Carder Fine Jewelry
Videography - Brandon Mattingly
Venue - City Methodist Church, Gary IN

Brie + Erik || New Carlisle, IN Wedding

Brie and Erik got married at The Homestead 1835. Their wedding day was packed filled with beautiful moments. By the way, their little boy is adorable and a dancing machine!  

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Vendors: 

Venue - The Homestead 1835

Dress - Catherine's Bridal Boutique

Groom's Attire - Louie's Tux Shop

Hair - Serenity Spa

Caterer - LaSalle Gril

DJ - Entertainment Express

Gina + Paul || Arlington Heights, IL Wedding

Gina and Paul's wedding was filled with SO much laughter. Despite Paul going on crutches one month before their wedding, their spirits were always up and it was such a pleasure to capture their day. Hope you enjoy this glimpse of this joy-filled day! 

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Vendors: 

Dress - Brides by Demetrios

Groom Attire - Black Tie Formalwear 

Hair - Pins & Lashes

Flowers - The Petal 

Hannah + TJ || LaPorte, IN Wedding

Hannah + TJ - maybe it was the way you two looked at each other, or maybe it was your personal vows you read to one another, or the the excitement you had for marriage, maybe it was how crazy/weird/awesome your friends and family are, or the awesome idea to have breakfast for dinner, or maybe the incredible dance party you had that led to TJ and all the guys in the pond, or maybe because you two are friends of mine and I am incredibly thankful and honored to have captured your day - or maybe just a combinations of all these - whatever it was, your day was incredible and is one that I will never forget. Thank you again for having me. PSA - Make sure you make your way to the end for a hilarious added surprise. ;) 

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SURPRISE! Click HERE to see this hilarious tribute to the groomsmen from Hannah + TJ's wedding day! 

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Vendors: 

Venue - Red Barn Experience 

Dress Designer - Paris House of Bridal

Groom's Attire - Rusted Oak

Make Up - Bethany Ingram

Florist - Carolina Rosa Designs Forever Floral (Bridal Bouquet + Groom Boutonniere)

Flower Crown - Emily Rose Flower Crowns

DJ - 27 Entertainment

On Purpose Workshop || Wright City, MO Styled Elopement

Earlier this month I went to the On Purpose Workshop lead by Courtney of Courtney Smith Photography, and Jessica of Jessica Lauren Photography (pictured below)! This was such a great opportunity to hear from two amazing photographers who are seriously the sweetest gals ever! We also had a styled shoot with two beautiful humans, Alaina + Matthew, at Long Row Lavender (the most precious lavender farm around). 

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Vendors: 

Cake - Laulie’s Cakes
Dress - White Traditions Bridal
Tux - The Black Tux
Flowers - Accents Floral Design
Hair & Make-Up - Sarah Young at Serenity Studio
Calligraphy - Courtney Smith Photography & Design
Venue - Long Row Lavender

Thanks again Courtney + Jessica! 

Briana + Trevor || Frankfort, IL Wedding

The ceremony alone made this wedding great. Trevor mentioned to me that he was so much of an emotional guy until it came to his wedding. There were so many happy, joyful tears had between Trevor, Briana and their friends and family. Wishing these two a lifetime of happiness together. 

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Vendors

Venue - Southern Charm Venues

Dress - Bella Sposa Bridal

Florals - Flowers For Dreams

Caterer - Grapevine

Bakery - Tay's Cake

Sandra + Andre || Wilmette, IL Wedding

Sandra and Andre are married! These two have known each other for quite some time. When I first met them I knew that they were deeply in love with one another. Being goofy, watching anime, and fearlessly loving each other is their norm. Sandra and Andre, thank you so much for letting me be a witness to your love and wedding day. It is truly one that I will not soon forget.

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Vendors

Bridal Hair - Pin Me Up Chicago

Florals - Nilee Event Decor

Wedding Cake - Oak Mill Bakery

DJ - The Beat Guru

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To see their engagement session click here! 

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Jackie + Matt || St. Charles, IL Wedding

Jackie + Matt's Spring wedding was gorgeous. Their ceremony was held at St. Patrick Catholic Church and their reception was at Two Brother's Roundhouse. These two had so much excitement for marriage! So glad I was able to capture this day and second shoot for the lovely Aysha Nicole Photography. 

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Sarai + Roberto || Schererville, IN Wedding

Sarai + Roberto's winter wedding was filled with so much joy and laughter. Every time I saw them I could tell that they were perfect for each other. I am honored to have been able to capture their wedding day... and their crazy dance moves on the dance floor ;)  

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To see photos from their Chicago engagement session, click here!

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Boho Chic Wedding Inspiration || Chicago, IL Wedding Photographer

This styled shoot at Garfield Park Conservatory was a dream to capture. 

THAT dress - enough said. The groom looked handsome from head to toe. The florals got me daydreaming about Spring. Anyone with a flower crown has got me swooning. Handmade wedding bands uniquely designed. Macrame designs throughout to add a touch of boho flare. Watercolor paper goods that are simply gorgeous. So much more boho-chic details here. Be sure to check out the crazy talented vendors listed below!

Oh AND - the video is a must see! Enjoy :) 

Update: This shoot has been featured in Junebug Weddings!

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Behind the Scenes Video

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Vendors

• Photography - Erika Mattingly Photography
• Wedding Gown - Mignonette Bridal
• Male Clothing - BOGA
• Flower Crown - Emily Rose Flower Crowns
• Makeup Artist - Carly Pribich, Makeup Artist
• Hairstylist - Unwana Rose
• Macrame Designer - Amy Zwikel Studio
• Florist - Veil Event Design
• Jeweler - Moira K. Lime Jewelry
• Graphic Designer - Emily Rose Ink
• Event Designer - Lil Epic Event Design
• Video - Brandon Mattingly
• Venue - Garfield Park Conservatory